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Author Topic: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.  (Read 1549 times)

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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« on: January 30, 2009, 05:36:23 AM »
Well I'm finally back from Iraq and currently enjoying a little time at the family bungalow in Florida.  Today's rainy, but yesterday was 82 degrees and sunny, and it's been in the high-70s, low-80s all week.

Got to play with my new toy as well.  Picked up my NS400R Wednesday.  The history and such of the machine can be checked out here:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=41353.0

As far as mine?  It's perfect.  Someone REALLY took care of it.  The paint and bodywork is perfect, it's been freshly serviced, new tires, the engine is tight as a drum and it rides awesome.

Riding impressions:  Putt-putting around town, it feels like a 125cc commuter.  It has 73hp, but out of the powerband, the bike feels like it has about 18hp.  Then, right at 7500RPM, the other 55hp come on like a lightswitch, all the way up to 10,000.  Not the nice, clean predictable power of a four-stroke, but ugly, brutish power.  I love two-strokes.  It's LOUD, smoky, smelly and otherwise socially unacceptable.  I love it.

Enough of that.  Pics: (Right click and click "View Image" to see them in full-size.  Much clearer.)


Flawless paint.


Note even the sidestand has its own little fairing, so when folded, it maintains the shape of the body.




Off-balance exhaust pipes.  Those are straight-through glasspacks.










Proud owner.

Everyone I knew said it was time I got a plastic sportbike, and I did.  But I made sure to get one of the weirdest sportbikes ever built.  Real piece of history.


(Mods, could this stay here for a bit before moving to "Other Bikes", since this forum has more traffic?)
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Offline tramp

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2009, 05:59:03 AM »
good buy
weather down there sucks
we like it at 20 degrees with lots of snow so we can't ride
that way we keep the miles low
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Offline Duke McDukiedook

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2009, 06:10:39 AM »
Pretty nice looking ride, looks like fun.
Let us know how it rides when you get it out on track days.
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Offline BlindJoe

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2009, 06:51:57 AM »
Nice ride, glad you made it back safely!
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fuzzybutt

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2009, 06:55:51 AM »
welcome back from the sandbox mate. great looking new toy
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Offline bwaller

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2009, 07:31:12 AM »
Exactly, welcome back man, nice ride too.
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Offline medic09

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2009, 07:45:22 AM »
Wow.  Exquisite.

Glad you're safe.  Now stay that way.  ;)
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Offline siter81

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2009, 07:50:14 AM »
Where in Fl are you?I am in Clearwater.Welcome home.

Two strokers Rock!!!!   Nice score, love those pipes.






Siter81 Aka Ed
« Last Edit: January 30, 2009, 07:53:17 AM by siter81 »
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Offline UnCrash

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2009, 07:58:08 AM »
Welcome back, glad you're safe and sound and congrats on picking up this gem.  The exhaust config is wild. 

Happy riding!
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Offline Really?

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2009, 08:35:32 AM »
Kewl, glad you are back and thanks for what you do!  I wonder if that cable over the tach tells an untold story?
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Offline BIKE

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2009, 09:05:35 AM »
Oh wow!  I love those bikes.

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Offline tsflstb

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2009, 10:50:41 AM »
Sweet.  Welcome back.

I see you got the BT45's on it now.  Good choice.

That's one of those bikes that's styled so it doesn't really age.  What's the story with those yellow fairing panels?
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2009, 03:45:27 PM »
Quote from: tsflstb on January 30, 2009, 10:50:41 AM
That's one of those bikes that's styled so it doesn't really age.  What's the story with those yellow fairing panels?

On the actual NS500 racebikes, that's where the racing number went.  The headlight takes up the space on the front fairing where the third number would go.  I guess they put the splash of yellow in the paint scheme to tie the bikes to Spencer's winning NS500 from '83.

Freddy Spencer's NS500:



Thanks all for the well-wishes.  Glad to be back.  I REALLY wanna take this thing out to some trackdays, but it's such a rare beast, I'm REALLY worried about stuffing it up.  LOTS of parts on it are irreplaceable, or very nearly so.

Quote
I wonder if that cable over the tach tells an untold story?

Err, the clutch cable??   ???
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Offline Really?

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2009, 03:54:16 PM »
I would not imagine that it was there when it was purchased new, right over the tach like that.  Wonder if it was replaced and the PO just installed it that way or maybe it was down and that is the way in ended up when put back together.  I would have imagined it be a bit more hidden or out of the way.
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I don't have a motorcycle, sold it ('85 Yamaha Venture Royale).  Haven't had a CB750 for over 40 years.

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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2009, 04:02:52 PM »
Quote from: GigaWhiskey on January 30, 2009, 03:54:16 PM
I would not imagine that it was there when it was purchased new, right over the tach like that.  Wonder if it was replaced and the PO just installed it that way or maybe it was down and that is the way in ended up when put back together.  I would have imagined it be a bit more hidden or out of the way.

Maybe, but I've checked the routing since you mentioned it, and that looks like the way it should be.  No binding or kinking.  It actually only obscures the highest-section of the speedo, which is an incidental instrument anyhow. 
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Offline tortelvis

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2009, 01:08:44 PM »
Welcome home! Very nice bike. I tried a VFR400 back in England and just could not get on with it. All the characteristics of a two stroke, nothing at all low down then crap yourself when the power comes in! I couldn't get used to screaming around everywhere after years of bigger bikes, having to change down 3 gears to get going if you let it fall too low on the tach.
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2009, 03:02:14 PM »
Quote from: tortelvis on February 02, 2009, 01:08:44 PM
Welcome home! Very nice bike. I tried a VFR400 back in England and just could not get on with it. All the characteristics of a two stroke, nothing at all low down then crap yourself when the power comes in! I couldn't get used to screaming around everywhere after years of bigger bikes, having to change down 3 gears to get going if you let it fall too low on the tach.

I know what you mean about having to row the gearbox. My first bike, (still have it), was a '76 CB400F with literally half the power of the NS, so I know ALL about dropping multiple gears to go anywhere.

I actually lust after a UK-spec VFR400 BADLY.  Single-sided swingarms are HAWT, and it would compliment the NS nicely.  A VFR400R and a CBR400RR "Baby Blade" and I could quite nearly have the whole set of "kick-ass 400cc Hondas never legally sold in the US."

I gotta say though, I do love the hit right at 7300RPM when all hell breaks loose.  You better be pointed straight ahead because it plain GOES.
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Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2009, 07:10:00 PM »
GG,

Welcome home! You ETS'd or still active? Nice bike, you deserve it. Everyone needs one to ride and a SOHC to work on.

Don't go crazy, at first anyway  ;)  Get used to the bike and being back. Enjoy. I look forward to your reports.
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2009, 07:52:19 PM »
Quote from: Jerry Griffin aka Rxman on February 02, 2009, 07:10:00 PM
GG,

Welcome home! You ETS'd or still active? Nice bike, you deserve it. Everyone needs one to ride and a SOHC to work on.

Don't go crazy, at first anyway  ;)  Get used to the bike and being back. Enjoy. I look forward to your reports.

Active still.  ETS in May. 

Yeah, the 750F1 is still the "daily rider" since I'm trying to keep the miles down on this one, plus parts are pretty much totally unavailable.  If it needs anything more than brake pads or other "consumables", I'm screwed.

I do tend to prefer the CB's riding position for most riding, but the "Greyhound crapping razorblades" riding position of the NS is good for tearing up the corners, but it demands a totally different technique than the CB.  After a day or so of familiarization, it felt MUCH more natural and I began to even like it, but was still hell on my wrists.

My brother is currently stationed over in Germany, where NS's are not uncommon and FAR cheaper than the US.  I might have him find one is decent shape and ship it back to be hot-rodded into a full 500cc track-only toy.  That hit of power as it comes on the pipe is totally addicting.  I'm REALLY getting stuck on two-strokes. 
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Offline DarkRider

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #19 on: February 03, 2009, 12:04:46 PM »
Welcome back man. Nice bike!
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Offline j-conn

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Re: No ice and snow for me. Got my new toy.
« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2009, 12:27:38 PM »
very very cool bike i really ilke these!
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